Facial Shading Template and Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A facial shading template can include an upper template having first and second upper template ends, a forehead portion configured to cover at least a portion of the user&#39;s forehead, an eye portion configured to simultaneously cover areas of the face directly below each eye of the user, and a nose portion configured to cover a central portion of the user&#39;s nose starting from a bridge of the nose to a tip of the nose; a lower template having first and second lower template ends, a chin portion configured to cover a portion of the user&#39;s face directly below the user&#39;s mouth, and a jaw portion configured to cover the user&#39;s jaw lines; a first strap connected to the first upper template end and the first lower template end; and a second strap connected to the second upper template end and the second lower template end. A user can apply a shading material to the uncovered portions of their face.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to facial highlighting and make-up application devices, and more specifically, to facial make-up application templates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shading (or contouring) and highlighting are makeup techniques used to visually define facial features. Shading involves the application of a darker (or shading) composition of matter (“shading material”) to subtract perceived volume of facial features; whereas highlighting involves application of a relatively lighter composition of matter (“highlighting material”) to emphasize or highlight facial features. The combination of shading and highlighting can refine visual perception of facial shape, such as the size and shape of noses, cheek bones, and other facial features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a facial shading template and method of using the same.

It is another object of the present invention to facial shading template and methods of use that provide functional utility.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a facial shading template can include an upper template, a lower template, a first strap, and a second strap.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, an upper template can include first and second upper template ends, a forehead portion configured to cover at least a portion of the user's forehead, an eye portion configured to simultaneously cover areas of the face directly below each eye of a user, and a nose portion configured to cover a central portion of the user's nose starting from the bridge of the nose to the tip of the nose.

In another exemplary aspect, a lower template can include first and second lower template ends, a chin portion configured to cover a portion of the user's face directly below the user's mouth, and a jaw portion configured to cover the user's jaw lines.

In a further exemplary aspect, a first strap can be connected to the first upper template end and the first lower template end; and a second strap can be connected to the second upper template end and the second lower template end.

Any combination of the following are optional exemplary aspects of the present invention:

a forehead portion can expose an area of the user's hairline;

-   -   two or more of the forehead, eye, and nose portions can be         integrally formed or provided as individual components connected         together;     -   the chin and jaw portions can be integrally formed;     -   the upper and lower templates can be integrally formed or         provided as individual components connected together;     -   two or more of the upper and lower templates and the first and         second straps can be integrally formed or provided as individual         components connected together;     -   at least one of the upper and lower templates can be formed of a         flexible material; and     -   at least one of the first and second strap can be formed of an         elastic material.

These and other exemplary embodiments and aspects of the present invention are further described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a illustrates an exemplary facial shading template having an upper template, a lower template, and first and second straps.

FIG. 1b illustrates an exemplary buckle integral with a first upper template end.

FIG. 2a illustrates a front perspective of an exemplary facial shading template worn by a user.

FIG. 2b illustrates a profile perspective of an exemplary facial shading template worn by a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary method steps of an exemplary method of using a facial shading template.

FIG. 4 illustrates a profile perspective of an exemplary “negative” embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted that this disclosure includes a plurality of embodiments, with a plurality of elements and aspects, and such elements and aspects need not necessarily be interpreted as being conjunctively required by one or more embodiments of the present invention. Rather, all combinations of the one or more elements and/or aspects can enable a separate embodiment of the present invention, which may be claimed with particularity in this or any one or more future filed Non-Provisional patent applications. Moreover, any particular materials, structures, and/or sizes disclosed herein, whether expressly or implicitly, are to be construed strictly as illustrative and enabling, and not necessarily limiting. Therefore, it is expressly set forth that such materials, structures, and/or sizes independently or in any combination of one of more thereof, are merely illustratively representative of one or more embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as necessary in a strict sense.

Further, to the extent the same element or aspect is defined differently within this disclosure, whether expressly or implicitly, the broader definition is to take absolute precedence, with the distinctions encompassed by the narrower definition to be strictly construed as optional.

Illustratively, perceived benefits of the present invention can include functional utility, whether expressly or implicitly stated herein, or apparent herefrom. However, it is expressly set forth that these benefits are not intended as exclusive. Therefore, any explicit, implicit, or apparent benefit from the disclosure herein is expressly deemed as applicable to the present invention.

The present invention provides a facial shading template (and method of using the same) that covers areas of a user's face to prevent application of a highlighting material to the covered areas, and simultaneously exposes particular other areas of the user's face to allow and direct application of the shading material to the exposed areas, so as to subtract visually perceived volume of facial features. Subsequently, upon removal of the facial shading template, a user can apply highlighting material to the previously covered facial areas, so as to emphasize or highlight facial features.

According to the present invention, any portion of a facial shading template can be formed from any combination of functionally compatible materials, such as one or more of a plastic, rubber, metal, wood, crystalline material, or any other man-made or naturally occurring material, for example and not in limitation, insofar as the same is functionally consistent with the invention. In an exemplary aspect, one or more portions of a facial shading template can be formed of a flexible and/or elastic material, such as silicone. Alternatively or conjunctively, such a material can have a relatively high coefficient of friction so as to be “sticky” or “tacky,” which can facilitate static positioning of a facial shading template against a user's face.

FIG. 1a illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which a facial shading template 100 can include an upper template 110, a lower template 120, a first strap 130, and a second strap 140.

As illustrated in FIG. 1a , upper template 110 can include first and second upper template ends 111, 112, a forehead portion 113 configured to cover at least a portion of a user's forehead, an eye portion 114 configured to simultaneously cover areas of the face directly below each eye of the user, and a nose portion 115 configured to cover a central portion of a user's nose from the bridge of the nose to the tip of the nose.

In an exemplary aspect of the present invention, forehead portion 113 can include a curvilinear upper portion 113 a to expose a portion of a user's face directly below and along the user's hairline (illustratively shown in FIG. 2a as reference HL), such that a user can apply a shading material to such portion, whilst forehead portion 113 can prevent unwanted application of the shading material to the forehead area covered by the forehead portion.

In another exemplary aspect, eye portion 114 can cover areas of the user's face directly below the eyes, so as to prevent application of shading material to those areas. Notably, first and second upper template ends 111, 112 are illustratively shown as terminal portions of eye portion 114. However, it should be noted that ends 111, 112 can be conjunctively or disjunctively provided as terminal portions of forehead portion 113 to the extent desired, with the same being considered equivalents within the spirit of the present invention.

In a further exemplary aspect, nose portion 115 can extend along a user's nose to cover a central portion of the nose from the bridge to the tip of the nose, so as to prevent unwanted shading of the central portion. In still another exemplary aspect, nose portion 115 can optionally include a wider, terminal nose portion 115 a to cover and shield that respective area from unwanted shading.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1a , lower template 120 can include first and second lower template ends 121, 122, a chin portion 123 configured to cover a portion of the user's face directly below a user's mouth, and a jaw portion 124 configured to simultaneously cover a user's jaw lines along the sides of the face, and optionally, can include cheek portions, which can further optionally be rounded (not shown) to cover a user's cheek areas. Accordingly, lower template 120 can prevent shading of these portions of a user's face.

As additionally illustrated in FIG. 1a , first strap 130 can be connected to first upper template end 111 and first lower template end 121; and second strap 140 can be connected to second upper template end 112 and second lower template end 122.

Notably, as illustrated in FIG. 1a , first and second straps 130, 140 can be integral with upper and lower template 110, 120. Alternatively, first and second straps 130, 140 can be provided as separate elements connected to respective ends in any manner functionally consistent with the present invention. For example and not in limitation, any one or more integral or separate structural connection elements may be utilized to achieve such connection, such as a hook, pin, snap, catch, stitched threading, enclosed channel of material, ferromagnetic elements, hook and loop elements, buckle, adhesive, etc. As illustratively shown in FIG. 1b , a respective end can be provided with a buckle 121 a to accommodate first or second strap 130, 140, for example and not in limitation.

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate an exemplary facial shading template 100 worn by a user 1. As illustratively shown, first and second straps 130, 140 can be positioned (or wrapped) around the ears E of user 1 to assist in maintaining upper and lower templates 110, 120 against the face of the user. Notably, a user 1 can then render fine adjustments in the positioning of upper and lower templates 110, 120 as desired to particularly cover respective portions of their face. As noted above, facial shading template 100 can optionally be formed from a “sticky” or “tacky” material, which can facilitate the static positioning of the facial shading template against a user's face.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of using facial shading template 100 to assist in selectively applying a shading material to a user's face. In step 310, a user can position or wrap first and second straps 130, 140 behind the user's ears E.

In step 320, a user can particularly adjust the positioning of upper template 110 against the user's face, so as to desirably cover respective areas of the user's face covered by forehead portion 113, eye portion 114, and nose portion 115. And in step 330, a user can particularly adjust the positioning of lower template 120, so as to desirably cover respective areas of the user's face covered by chin portion 123 and jaw portion 124.

It should be noted that, in a further exemplary aspect of the present invention, steps 310,320, and 330 can be performed in any order, insofar as facial shading template 100 is positioned as desired prior to step 340.

In another exemplary aspect, in step 340, a user can apply shading material (not shown) to at least a portion of the user's face that is uncovered by facial shading template 100.

Thus, upon application of shading material, a user can thereafter remove facial shading template 100 to reveal the uncovered portions of their face, and thereafter apply a highlighting material to at least a portion of the newly uncovered portions. The result therefrom is a desirable application of shading and highlighting material.

It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the manner of making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed in the above-written description of the exemplary embodiments and aspects.

It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangement, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention. For example, while the present invention is illustratively shown as a facial shading template that covers portions of a face and exposes others, a negative embodiment, as illustratively shown in FIG. 4, can expose the portions and cover the others for highlighting application is expressly contemplated as an equivalent within the spirit of the instant invention.

Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims. 

Therefore, I claim:
 1. A facial shading template configured to exclusively cover particular portions of a user's face, comprising: an upper template having first and second upper template ends, a forehead portion configured to cover at least a portion of the user's forehead, an eye portion configured to simultaneously cover areas of the face directly below each eye of the user, and a nose portion configured to cover a central portion of the user's nose starting from a bridge of the nose to a tip of the nose; a lower template having first and second lower template ends, a chin portion configured to cover a portion of the user's face directly below the user's mouth, and a jaw portion configured to cover the user's jaw lines; a first strap connected to the first upper template end and the first lower template end; and a second strap connected to the second upper template end and the second lower template end.
 2. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein the forehead portion exposes an area of the user's hairline.
 3. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein the forehead, eye, and nose portions are integrally formed together.
 4. The facial shading template of claim 3, wherein the chin and jaw portions are integrally formed together.
 5. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein the chin and jaw portions are integrally formed together.
 6. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower templates are integrally formed together.
 7. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein said upper and lower templates and said first and second elastic elements are integrally formed together.
 8. The facial shading template of claim 1, wherein at least one of said upper template and said lower template is formed of a flexible material.
 9. A method of using a facial shading template configured to exclusively cover particular portions of a user's face to selectively apply a shading material to the user's face, the facial shading template comprising an upper template having first and second upper template ends, a forehead portion configured to cover at least a portion of the user's forehead, an eye portion configured to simultaneously cover areas of the face directly below each eye of the user, and a nose portion configured to cover a central portion of the user's nose starting from a bridge of the nose to a tip of the nose, a lower template having first and second lower template ends, a chin portion configured to cover a part of the user's face directly below the user's mouth, and a jaw portion configured to cover the user's jaw lines, a first strap connected to the first upper template end and the first lower template end, and a second strap connected to the second upper template end and the second lower template end, said method comprising: placing the upper template against the user's face to cover the at least a portion of the user's forehead, the areas of the face, and the central portion; positioning the lower template against the user's face to cover the part and the jaw lines; respectively wrapping the first and second straps behind the user's right and left ears; and applying a shading material to at least a portion of the uncovered portions of the user's face.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the forehead portion exposes an area of the user's hairline.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the forehead, eye, and nose portions are integrally formed together.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the chin and jaw portions are integrally formed together.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the chin and jaw portions are integrally formed together.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower templates are integrally formed together.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the upper and lower templates and the first and second elastic elements are integrally formed together.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the upper template and the lower template is formed of a flexible material. 